Today more than ever, our students need help leading active, healthy lives. As physical educators, we're on the front line of fitness, working to teach your children the fundamentals of healthy living.

Physical Fitness Testing is an essential element of any health-related physical activity program. It establishes a baseline from which students can set goals and check progress. It also allows students to experience and better understand the components of health-related fitness.

Here at Hanley InternationalAcademy, we have developed a unique fitness challenge that combines two of the more popular fitness challenges; Fitnessgram and the President’s Challenge. This challenge has been appropriately named the Husky Fitness Challenge.The Husky Fitness Challenge will have 5 events and students must meet or exceed the standards set at the 80th percentile in order to receive their Husky Physical Fitness Award. This award recognizes youth who achieve an outstanding level of physical fitness. If students meet or exceed the standard, they pass the fitness test. If they fall short, they fail the fitness test and this should motivate them to set goals for themselves to improve their fitness levels. Students will be rewarded after the Fitness Post-Testing toward the end of the school year. If students pass 3 out of 5 events, they will receive a Physical Fitness Participant Award.

Only Grades 3-8 will compete in the 5 events for the Husky Physical Fitness Award.

The Husky Fitness Challenge tests student's level of physical fitness in the following five activities/events twice a year, once in the fall (Pre-Test) and once in the spring (Post-Test). The 5 Fitness Events are listed here and explained in more detail below.

We know that just completing all five activities is an accomplishment. However, we do not want the students to become discouraged if they do not pass a test. The Pre-Test gives us a gauge as to where our students are at physically, and if they do not pass, they must understand that they will just have to work hard all year in and out of PE class to improve their physical fitness levels. If they fail a fitness test, it does not affect their PE grade. If students pass all 5 fitness tests in the spring, we celebrate the fitness feat with an awards ceremony.

FITNESSGRAM & PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE

Fitnessgram is considered to be more effective than other available physical fitness tests for three reasons. First, it compares scores to carefully researched and developed health standards rather than to national averages. Second, it emphasizes measures of health-related physical fitness instead of performance of physical or sport-related skills. Third, it goes beyond mere measurement to recommend individualized physical activity program options that will help students in the areas where they need improvement. (Fitnessgram, 1999)

The President’s Challenge is a physical fitness awards program of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). The program is for ages six through seventeen, including those students with special needs. For the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, participants must score at or above the 85th percentile on all five events of the test to receive the award.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do fitness testing?

Students should learn to self-assess their fitness levels and interpret the results. This will help them learn about fitness concepts, plan and set goals for fitness and serve as a motivational tool to remain active on their own.

How will I know if my child is fit?

Each student will receive a Personal Fitness Record printout of their test results. These results will be used as a learning tool for physical fitness. Students who meet the fitness challenge levels after the fitness post-test and pass all 5 tests will receive a Husky Physical Fitness Award at an Awards Ceremony toward the end of the school year. Students who pass 3 out 5 tests will receive Physical Fitness Participant Award.

If my child fails the fitness test, does this affect their PE grade?

No. Fitness testing is only a tool that measures a student's physical fitness level. If a student fails the fitness test it will not affect their PE grade. Please see the page titled "PE/Health Grading Policies" to see how your child is graded in physical education and health. Students are told to try their best and give their best effort during fitness testing. Their PE grade is determined on how well they tried and not if they failed or passed the fitness test. Students are told ahead of time that if they fail the fitness test, it will not affect their grade in class.

What fitness areas does the Husky Fitness Challenge cover?

HUSKY FITNESS CHALLENGE EVENTS

Speed and Agility:

Shuttle Run Test – This event measures speed, quickness and agility. Students run back and forth in two parallel lines marked 30 feet apart. At one end there are two objects to retrieve one at a time. Once they run past the starting line the second time, the timer is stopped. Students are given two attempts for their best time.

Muscular Strength and Endurance:

Abdominal Strength:

Curl-up Test–This event measures abdominal strength and endurance. For the curl-up test, the students complete as many curl-ups as they can in one-minute. The curl-up has been selected over the partial curl-up because it tests how many a student can do in one-minute for record purposes. Strength and endurance of the abdominals are important in promoting good posture and correct pelvic alignment.

Upper Body Strength:

Right Angle Push Up Test – This event measures upper body strength and endurance. The student lies face down on a mat in a push-up position with hands under shoulders, fingers straight, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart, with the toes supporting the feet. The student straightens the arms, keeping the back and knees straight, then lowers the body until there is a 90-degree angle at the elbows, with the upper arms parallel to the floor. A prop is used to help students meet that 90-degree angle. One push-up must be completed every three seconds otherwise the student is finished with the test.

Sit and Reach Test-The sit and reach measures predominantly the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles. A specially constructed box with a measuring scale marked in centimeters at the level of the feet is used. Students remove their shoes and sits on the floor with knees fully extended, feet shoulder width apart and soles of feet held flat against the end of the box. With hands on top of each other, palms down, and legs held flat, students reach along the measuring line as far as possible. Two reaches are recorded with the best reach as their final score.

Cardiorespiratory (Cardiovascular) Endurance:

PACER Test- The Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run is a multistage fitness test adapted from the 10 meter (30 ft) shuttle run test. The test is progressive; it is easy at the beginning and gets harder each stage. The object is to run back and forth across a 15 meter (50 ft) distance at a specified pace for as long as possible. Set to music, this test is a valid, fun alternative to the customary one-mile distance run test for measuring aerobic capacity that the President’s Challenge tests. The PACER is recommended for all ages. The children have a good time while learning how to pace. (Fitnessgram, 1999)

PACER Test NOTE: This can be a very difficult cardiovascular endurance event. I will do my best to make sure students are physically ready for this challenge before they try to complete it. Students with asthma can complete this event, but if they have medical inhalers, they must have them readily available before they complete the event. If a student is on record as having asthma and does not have thier inhaler with them, the PE Staff reserves the right to deny the student the opportunity to PACER test due to the health risks it may cause that student.

If your child has asthma and has a medically issued inhaler, please go to our STUDENT INFORMATION CARD page on this website and complete that form and return it to our PE Staff ASAP. Thanks for your cooperation!

How many times does my child get to attempt to pass a test?

Physical Fitness Testing normally takes 6 weeks (5 weeks of testing and 1 week of make-ups, or re-tries). There is no limit to the number of tries a student may have on each test as long as class time permits. Typically, students are given 2 attempts at the Shuttle Run, 2 attempts at the Sit & Reach, and 1 attempt at Push-Ups, Curl-Ups, and PACER. However, students that come close to passing but fail, will be given the chance to pass a test with a re-try. If they cannot pass after a few attempts, the student must accept the fact that they did not pass that certain activity and must set a goal for future testing.

If a student is absent during testing, I will do my best to make sure they make-up that test during make-up week. If the student is absent during make-up week as well, they will be given an "A" meaning ABSENT for that fitness test and it will be considered a "FAIL."

Students are not forced to complete the fitness tests, but are encouraged to at least try their best. If a student decides not to participate in an event, they will be given a "DNA" which means "DID NOT ATTEMPT" and it will be considered a "FAIL" as well.

A parent letter will go home with the students along with their Personal Fitness Record. If you have any other questions related to Physical Fitness Testing that wasn't answered here, please contact Mr. Stabnick at his email address listed on the Contact Us page.